Imran Khan Heads to Bombay HC Over Anti-CEC Protest 'Leave India' Order
Bollywood actor Imran Khan is set to move the Bombay High Court to challenge an official directive issued by the Mumbai Police instructing him to leave the country by October 28, 2026. The contentious notice was served after the 43-year-old actor participated in a public demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in Mumbai. The legal challenge, spearheaded by prominent law firm MZM Legal under managing partner Zulfiqar Memon, contends that the deportation order is excessively harsh, unlawful, and without statutory merit. The plea asserts that holding an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card alongside United States citizenship does not strip an individual of the fundamental liberty to take part in peaceful public gatherings or voice democratic dissent under prevailing Indian legal frameworks.
OCI Rights and Due Process: Legal Defense Mounts Urgent High Court Challenge
The actor's legal team is slated to file the writ petition before the Bombay High Court between Friday and Monday, seeking an immediate listing before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna for urgent ad-interim relief. The petition argues that no clause within the Citizenship Act, 1955, or associated foreign registration regulations expressly prohibits OCI cardholders from exercising democratic expressions or attending peaceful civic demonstrations. Labeling the police directive arbitrary and disproportionate, the petition seeks to quash the exit deadline of October 28, maintaining that administrative actions targeting foreign nationals must adhere to constitutional fair play, natural justice, and clear statutory violations rather than knee-jerk administrative mandates.
August Kranti Maidan Agitation: Kirit Somaiya’s Complaint Triggers Legal Standoff
The controversy originates from an October 10 demonstration staged at Mumbai's historic August Kranti Maidan by Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Imran Khan attended the gathering alongside his partner Lekha Washington and family members, leading to his brief detention by the Mumbai Police alongside other demonstrators. The matter escalated into a major political and administrative row after senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya submitted a formal complaint to state authorities and law enforcement, alleging that Imran Khan, as a foreign passport holder, breached Indian immigration and citizenship statutes by participating in domestic political agitations against statutory authorities. As the matter heads to the courtroom, the high-profile legal standoff is set to become a benchmark legal test examining the scope of civil liberties and political participation rights extended to OCI cardholders residing in India.
